Multidisciplinary clinic integrates advanced diagnostics and navigation bronchoscopy to enable early evaluation and timely management of lung nodules
Bengaluru : In a move to strengthen early detection and comprehensive management of lung cancer, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru has launched a dedicated Lung Nodule Clinic aimed at early detection, comprehensive medical evaluation, and timely management of lung nodules through a multidisciplinary approach.
Led by Dr. Srivatsa Lokeshwaran, Director of Interventional Pulmonology, the clinic brings together specialists from Interventional Pulmonology, Thoracic Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology and Pathology, along with advanced diagnostic technologies including navigation bronchoscopy, to provide coordinated care from evaluation and diagnosis through treatment planning.
Lung nodules are small abnormal areas detected within the lung, often incidentally during imaging performed for other medical conditions. While many nodules may be benign (non-cancerous) and caused by infections or other non-cancerous conditions, some may represent an early sign of lung cancer. Timely and accurate evaluation is therefore critical to distinguish malignant (cancerous) nodules from benign (non-cancerous) or infectious lesions and determine the appropriate course of treatment.
During its six-month pilot phase, the Lung Nodule Clinic evaluated 38 patients with lung nodules. Of these 19 were diagnosed with lung cancer, 10 with infectious lesions and 9 with non-cancerous nodules. The experience highlights the importance of a structured, multidisciplinary approach to lung nodule evaluation, enabling appropriate diagnosis and timely treatment planning.
Dr. Srivatsa Lokeshwaran, Director, Interventional Pulmonology, Fortis Hospitals Bengaluru, said, “One of the biggest challenges in lung cancer care is that the disease is often detected at an advanced stage, when treatment becomes more complex. A structured approach to evaluating lung nodules allows us to investigate suspicious lesions at an earlier stage and arrive at an accurate diagnosis without unnecessary delays. With advances in navigation bronchoscopy and precision diagnostics, we are able to evaluate even small and difficult-to-access lung lesions more effectively. The Lung Nodule Clinic brings these capabilities together with multidisciplinary expertise, with the aim of ensuring that every patient receives the right diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan at the right time.”
Dr Ananth Rao, VP & Business Head, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, said, “Early diagnosis is central to improving outcomes in lung cancer, and our focus is to make advanced diagnostic capabilities and specialist expertise accessible to patients through a coordinated care pathway. The Lung Nodule Clinic brings together multiple specialties and advanced minimally invasive diagnostic technologies under one roof, enabling patients to move more efficiently from detection to diagnosis and treatment planning. This initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening comprehensive respiratory and cancer care and improving patient outcomes through timely intervention.”
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